Restricted Course Age Policy Change

The Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) for Ontario has announced a change in the age policy for students wishing to take the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course.  This policy change took effect on July 17, 2015, and has been communicated to all certified Ontario firearms instructors through the Firearms Safety Education Service of Ontario (FSESO).

All students who wish to take the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC), and the related exam, must now be at least 18 years of age in order to do so.  Previously, a student could take the course, but not the test, regardless of age, and they could take the test once they were within 6 months of their 18th birthday.

Following this policy change, youths may only take the restricted course for “educational purposes” and not for the purposes of certification.  In other words, should a person under 18 take the restricted course, they will not receive a course report from the CFO and they may not take the exam.

Challenge tests were removed in the most recent amendments to Canada’s firearms laws, meaning when a minor who has taken the restricted course “for educational purposes” reaches their 18th birthday, they would have to re-take the course as well as do the exam.  They cannot do only the exam because their course will not count as such when taken prior to turning 18.

As a result of these recent legal and policy changes, GTAGunSafety is reviewing our age policy.  Currently, students under 18 will be permitted to register for our 2-day combined CFSC/CRFSC course, however they will receive a course report for ONLY the non-restricted course and exam.